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Monday, May 14, 2012

Week 6 NASL Recap

Article by Doak Gips

Welcome all to your new weekly NASL recap! I'll be here
keeping you informed of what's going on in the lower league and who's been
making an impact at that level. You probably will recognize a lot of names
coming in as a whole lot of NASL guys have played at the MLS level at some
point and usually jump back and forth between both. Enough rambling, to the
recaps!

Atlanta Silverbacks vs. FC Edmonton

In front of 4,743 fans in attendance, FC Edmonton wrangled a
2-0 win away from home at Silverbacks park against the Atlanta Silverbacks.
Edmonton came in looking to recover from their loss to MLS side Vancouver
Whitecaps in the Amway Canadian Championship, and started off strong by scoring in the 14th minute with
some picturesque passing through the box. The play started from a free kick
just inside the midline, followed by a quick one-two between Ilja Van Leerdam
and Michael Cox, with Cox finishing it off. The Silverbacks had a great counter
going in the 40th minute, but Reinaldo Navia looked to be sleeping
offsides and killed the counter. One of Atlanta's best chances came through in
the 58th minute, when Danilo Turcios was released on a great through
ball, but couldn't beat the one on one with the goalkeeper. Edmonton finished
up the game with a header flick from Craig Hill to a streaking Van Leerdam, who
crushed the ball into the back of the net. With the win, Edmonton moves to
2-1-3 on the year, while Atlanta, still unable to find a win, drops to 0-4-2.

Puerto Rico Islanders vs. Fort Lauderdale Strikers

The Puerto Rico Islanders downed the Fort Lauderdale
Strikers 2-0, in front 1,060 fans in attendance at the Bayamon Soccer Complex
in Puerto Rico. The Islanders peppered the Strikers goal in the first half with
10 shots, but it wasn't until stoppage time in the first half that David Foley
was able to smash one home after a nice through ball from Greg Richardson.
Early the in the 2nd half the Strikers tried to catch the Islanders
on their back foot, but just couldn't quite get there, as Scott Lorenz hit a
volley into the side netting. This would prove costly as the Islanders made
them pay in the 51st minute, from what I'll call an assist-shot from
Justin Fojo that landed right at the feet of Hector Ramos, who promptly slotted
it home across goal. The Strikers Mark Anderson had one last chance to get one
back, but a diving save by Islanders Goalkeeper Richard Martin kept the shutout
alive. Puerto Rico stays on top of the NASL with a record of 4-1-1, while Fort
Lauderdale drops to 4th with a record of 2-3-2.

On a side note to Islanders commentator Gabby Acevedo,
please, always and forever, continue to call the penalty box, the “hot zone”. I
need more of that in my life.

Tampa Bay Rowdies vs. San Antonio Scorpions

Down in Florida at Al Lang Stadium, the San Antonio
Scorpions stole three points, as they scored a goal in the second half of
stoppage time to take the win, and sent the 3,166 in attendance home with a sad
face. With a dormant first half from both teams, Pablo Campos was able to score
the first goal for the Scorpions from a nice little flick up over the defense
from Hans Dennisen. The lead didn't last long though, as less than five minutes
later the Rowdies retaliated rambunctiously (See what happened there?). The
ball was plunked around the hot zone(Stealing it. Don't care.), landed at
Daniel Antoniuk's feet, who slammed it passed Daryl Sattler. The game looked to
be headed for a draw, until the final seconds of stoppage, when Esteban Bayona
fired a shot across goal that Rowdies Goalkeeper Jeff Attinella could only
deflect right to Campos, who cleaned it up for the brace. Campos also claimed
NASL offensive player of the week honors for his two goal performance. The
Scorpions have now won three straight, and sit at 3-2-1, while the Rowdies drop
to 2-2-3 on the year.

Minnesota Stars FC vs. Carolina Railhawks

Finally, in Minnesota, the Stars kept the Railhawks at the
bottom of the league, by defeating them 2-1 with 2,168 in attendance. Minnesota
took the lead in the 16th minute, as Amani Walker received an over
the top ball from Kentaro Takada(This
Guy), eluded the goalkeeper, and the defense, and took an early lead for
Minnesota. The Railhawks nearly drew it up less than a minute later, but the Stars
Goalkeeper made a fantastic point-blank save to keep the Stars
up. The Stars Kevin Venegas decided to take matters into his own hands with the
sure fire goal of the week from about 25 yards out to make it 2-0 Stars.
Describing it doesn't do this goal justice, so here's a link to watch it for
yourself. The Railhawks got one back as Austin Da Luz put away a goal in
stoppage, but the Railhawks simply ran out of time. The Railhawks stay in the
cellar at 0-4-4, while the win moved unbeaten Minnesota into 2nd
place with a record of 3-3-0.

This upcoming week, the Silverbacks play the Islanders in
the only midweek game this week, while the Scorpions take on Edmonton, the
Strikers face the Stars, the Silverbacks play the Rowdies, and the Islanders
take on the Railhawks.